Old Overholt Bonded Rye Whiskey
100 ABV
$25
Website
What the Distillery Says
Old Overholt® Rye is one of the oldest, most famous straight Rye Whiskeys on the market today. Old Overholt® Bonded Rye extends this historic brand into the Bonded segment. In accordance with the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, Old Overholt® Bonded Straight Rye Whiskey must be aged for four years, bottled at 100 proof, and contain liquid that is the product of a single distillation season.
Abraham Overholt (1784 – 1870) was one of the fathers of American Distilling, and he took uncompromising pride in his product. When it came to making his whiskey, Abraham Overholt lived by three hard and fast standards – work hard, stand fast, and don’t waver. These three standards were the basis upon which he built Old Overholt® Rye, and the same standards upon which Old Overholt® Bonded Rye is created today
Tasting Notes
Color: Dark honey
Aroma: Robust mix of oak and caramel with soft hints of vanilla
Taste: Harmonious blend of char, spice, and fresh oak
Finish: Long lingering char and light fruit
What Gary Says
Nose: Rye toast with an herbal (celery, thyme) spicy oak note, wafting mint with just a hint of orange zest.
Palate: Rye spice with a tangy tangerine note, sour oak.
Finish: Short and drying with a bit of pepper spice.
Comments: In full disclosure, I wasn’t a fan of Old Overholt at 80 proof and 4 yrs old (and hadn’t even bothered to try the new 3 yr old version). But I was hopeful here, and decided to taste this up against what I consider the benchmark for a bonded rye: Rittenhouse Bottled in Bond. This was lighter in color than the Rittenhouse, and softer on the nose. On the palate, it was closer – a little less vanilla sweetness but had that rye spice you’d want. While a definite step up, I personally prefer Rittenhouse BIB for the same money – but wouldn’t rule this out if you’re a rye fan and haven’t tried it.